Looking for a hybrid, any recommendations?

[3outof5]

Hi,
I'm in the market for a new bike. I currenly ride an old lightweight steel hybrid which is coming to the end of it's life (many things need replacing), so would rather buy a new bike.
I currently use the bike to commute, 3 out of 5 days per week, around 10 miles per day, but I also want to start cycling for fitness as well.
I'm leaning towards a lightweight hybrid and have about £500-£600 to spend. Having had a look on the internet I see there is a lot of choice.
One bike that has caught my eye is the Dawes Discovery 501 2010, which seems to be heavily discounted at a few places. I've seen this bike for £485 where the RRP was £699. Any opinion on these Dawes bikes, are they any good or are they discounted that much for a reason?
Other brands I'm looking at are Merida, Felt, Trek, Specialized and others.
Any advice or opinions welcome.
Cheers,
Allen

 

[Norm]

Dawes are good, the Spesh Sirrus is (IMO) better but, what do you want from your bke. The word "hybrid" **spit** is as useful as a bike to a goldfish. Are you looking for just road use? Hills? Light trails? Tow paths?

 

[3outof5]

Dawes are good, the Spesh Sirrus is (IMO) better but, what do you want from your bke. The word "hybrid" **spit** is as useful as a bike to a goldfish. Are you looking for just road use? Hills? Light trails? Tow paths?

Hi,
My commute is all tarmac (though a fair bit of it is poor quality), and I expect that most fitness work I would do would be tarmac also, including hills. I guess I'm leaning towards the 'road' end of the hybrid scale. Yes I quickly realised 'hybrid' was a misnomer as it covers such a wide spectrum of requirements.
Cheers

 

[Norm]

If you are sticking to tarmac ar that price, I'd be looking at the Sirrus or Allez (with drops) from Specialized, but that's because my LBS are very good.

Get some test rides from your LBS to test both rhe bikes and the shop.

 

[potsy]

Think he's got the point now norm

Your sales technique seems a little more desperate than it used to be

 

[Norm]

Oops!!! Posting,from phone whilst waiting for Davy, I knew that was a mistake. lol

 

[potsy]

Oops!!! Posting,from phone whilst waiting for Davy, I knew that was a mistake. lol

Leave that to the kids norm

 

[geo]

Mate of mine has just bought Specialised Sirrus, very nice bike for the money looks nice in matt black too well specced for the price cant go wrong IMO.

george

 

[Norm]

Think he's got the point now norm
Your sales technique seems a little more desperate than it used to be

Does my neediness show in this?

Leave that to the kids norm

I would have done... but I was sitting on Eton bridge waiting for one of them to turn up.

 

[potsy]

I would have done... but I was sitting on Eton bridge waiting for one of them to turn up.

Were you on babysitting duty then?


Back to the OP-Friend of mine has recently bought a Sirrus Elite and is very happy with it,think it's slightly over budget but the 2011's are out soon so you might pick up a 2010 for <600.

 

[HJ]

Leave it a few weeks, the bargains are only just starting as the bike manufactures role out next years paint schemes models. Also make sure you test ride any bike you are seriously thinking of buying (and a few that you are not ), it is only by riding it will you find if a bike is right for you (unless you have it made to measure, which would be over twice your budget).

As for bikes to look at: I would suggest the Norco VFR range, there are still some of the 2009 models kicking about, such as the Norco VFR Disc 4, which are great bargains if you can find them.

 

[TheBoyBilly]

HJ is right about waiting a little while (if you can)
If not, have an initial browse around the Evans Cycles hybrid section of their website (using the budget filter) and you will see what a very good range of bikes there are. There won't be too many, if any, bad bikes at that price so you can be assured of decent quality. Then it's just a matter of what you want from the bike - be honest with yourself - such as will it be used all year round and in all weathers? Some bikes come fully equipped with racks and mudguards yet still look good. Consider the Scott Sub 30 Solution with it's neat 'Urban' package.

Bill

 

[3outof5]

HJ is right about waiting a little while (if you can)
If not, have an initial browse around the Evans Cycles hybrid section of their website (using the budget filter) and you will see what a very good range of bikes there are. There won't be too many, if any, bad bikes at that price so you can be assured of decent quality. Then it's just a matter of what you want from the bike - be honest with yourself - such as will it be used all year round and in all weathers? Some bikes come fully equipped with racks and mudguards yet still look good. Consider the Scott Sub 30 Solution with it's neat 'Urban' package.

Bill

Hi Bill,
Yes, coincidentally I was looking at the Scott Sub 30 last night online, looks like a good package. I have three bike shops close to me, The Edge Cycleworks, The Bike Workshop and 69cycles, all within walking distance so I'm lucky that way, though I don't think any of them are Scott dealers. I accept what you say, though, at £500-£600 (assisted by the Cycle to Work Scheme), I should get a decent bike. It's hard reigning in one's instincts to always want the perceived "slightly better bit of kit" but as you say, It's about how the bike feels.
So far as timing is concerned, I really want one soon so I'm not going to hang around waiting for this deal or that, which might not materialise anyway.
Cheers for the advice so far.

Oh, by the way, can someone tell me what an 'attached' bottom bracket is and what implications it has for future replacement?


Cheers

Al

 

[TheBoyBilly]

By the way, Rutland Cycles are doing a good online deal for the Kona Smoke @£300

Bill

 

[3outof5]

By the way, Rutland Cycles are doing a good online deal for the Kona Smoke @£300

Bill

Dithering badly now. Did my commute this morning and thinking about the varied surfaces. Poor quality top-dressed asphalt, up and down kerbs (quite a lot), pavé (admittedly not much), cattle grid (every day, in and out of work), all along with about maybe 50 percent smooth/smoothish asphalt.

Question: do I need/would I benefit from front suspension?